THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kaur, Laura and I are
honored to welcome you to the White House. It is a great privilege to
have you here, along with our distinguished guests tonight.

India and the United States are separated by half the globe. Yet,
today our two nations are closer than ever before. The ties that bind
us are enriched by the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Indian
origin. These citizens contribute a lot to America's vitality. Today,
these Americans are leaders in their professions in business and
science, in space exploration and technology, and in many other fields.
And the United States is a better place because of the thousands of
students who come here from India to study in our universities.

Today, our two nations are bound by our common interests. Our
trading partnership has grown dramatically in recent years, which brings
greater prosperity and opportunity to citizens of both our countries.
America and India also understand the danger of global terrorism, which
has brought grief to our nations, and united us in our desire to bring
peace and security to the world.

Above all, India and the United States are bound together by common
values. As two strong, diverse democracies, we share a commitment to
the success of multi-ethnic democracy, individual liberty, and the rule
of law. And we believe that by spreading the blessings of democracy and
freedom, we will ensure lasting peace for our own citizens and for the
world.

Last year, Mr. Prime Minister, you said that the best is yet to
come in the relationship between India and the United States. The good
meetings we have had today demonstrate your foresight. America looks
forward to working even more closely with India in the coming years to
spread prosperity and freedom and peace.

And so tonight, Mr. Prime Minister, as we celebrate the friendship
of our two nations, I offer a toast to you, to your gracious wife, and
to the great people of India.

(A toast is offered.)

PRIME MINISTER SINGH: Your Excellency, Mr. President; Madam First
Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush; distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is a
great pleasure for me, Mr. President, to thank you and your gracious
wife, not merely on behalf of my wife and myself, but on behalf of the
people of India as a whole. The generosity of your hospitality is only
exceeded by the generosity of your spirit. I have often heard of the
warm benefactions of the American people. But when one feels it with
such intensity, it is truly heartwarming. And I thank you for that.

Bernard Shaw had once described America and England as two
countries divided by one language. But this once held true for India
and America, as well. I believe, Mr. President, that our two countries
must try to ally with a common lexicon and a shared framework of
reference in looking at the rest of the world, for I sincerely believe
there is truly very much that we have in common. However, if in the
recent past, our communication has been better and clearer, Mr.
President, a great deal of this credit must go to you.

Mr. President, we are truly indebted to you for your sustained
support to the transformation of the India-U.S. relationship. I have
found my visit to your great country to be a highly rewarding
experience. The joint statement we have issued today highlights some
key priority areas for expanded cooperation in the future. We look
forward to working with you to realize our common aspirations in the
months and years that lie ahead.

Mr. President, India and the United States are great nations and
great democracies. We cherish the openness of our societies and of our
economies. We value our pluralism, our diversity, and our freedoms.
These shared values that bring us together must be more visible not only
in how we deal with each other, but also in our approach to the world at
large. We must strengthen democratic capacities jointly. We must
oppose the evil of terrorism together. To meet such vital challenges,
we must be together on the same page. We must speak the same language
and display the same resolve.

Mr. President, I look forward to your visiting India with Mrs.
Bush, and with the great pleasure of extending our hospitality to you.

Mark Twain had once said that the only foreign land he ever dreamt
about or deeply longed to see was India. We have all grown up learning
the story of the unfinished voyage of Christopher Columbus. Setting
sails to reach India, he discovered America. (Laughter.) I now invite
the people of America to complete the voyage of that great explorer.
(Applause.)

Mr. President, I, myself, come to the United States with a fond
belief that what we do together, India and the United States can make a
significant contribution to global peace and prosperity. Indeed, the
contribution that the 2 million strong Indian-American community is
making every sphere of activities in this great country is one indicator
of the vast, untapped potential in our bilateral relationships.

Mr. President; First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush; ladies and gentlemen:
Today has been a day well spent and this is a meal well shared. We are
happy to break bread with you, Mr. President and First Lady, in
friendship.

Ladies and gentlemen, I now invite you to join me in a toast to the
health and happiness of President George Bush and the First Lady, Mrs.
Laura Bush, the friendly people of the United States of America, and to
the success of all that we are endeavoring to do through this visit to
open a new chapter in our relationship.